https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12021185/Jerry-Springer-dies-aged-79.html

Springer called it 'escapist entertainment,' while others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values

Dumbing-down?

MOD NOTE: Deleted link to age-restricted video.

 

I don't know about contributing to it, since correlation isn't causation, but at the least it was very likely a reflection of it.

My understanding is that most of the altercations on his show were staged. No thanks. That's why I have no interest in the vast majority of "reality" shows, which many people say were inspired by Jerry Springer. Since I never gave either the time of day, I don't know to what degree I would agree with that.

 

My daughter was mentioned on his show once. She had identical quad boys in her 3rd grade class. Jerry had them on his show and asked if they “had a girlfriend”. One of the boys announced that he did and said my daughter’s name. It was a surprise to my daughter. And the entire class heard it, as the teacher had brought in a TV for the segment.

 

I don't know about contributing to it, since correlation isn't causation, but at the least it was very likely a reflection of it.

My understanding is that most of the altercations on his show were staged. No thanks. That's why I have no interest in the vast majority of "reality" shows, which many people say were inspired by Jerry Springer. Since I never gave either the time of day, I don't know to what degree I would agree with that.

The show seemed to 'normalize' aberrant behaviors by showing them until the viewers tolerance of nonsensical behaviors reached the point some wanted 'real' fights on the screen. It was positive feedback to stupid is, as stupid does.

 

The show seemed to 'normalize' aberrant behaviors by showing them until the viewers tolerance of nonsensical behaviors reached the point some wanted 'real' fights on the screen. It was positive feedback to stupid is, as stupid does.

Yes, there is such thing as someone being a bad example to others ... but most people seem to have forgotten that and now, in the name of "saying it as it is", have a laissez faire attitude towards aberrance that has resulted in a general loss of civility.

 

The first time I saw Hunger Games, I recall thinking that it was just The Jerry Springer Show of the future.

 

A life well-lived.

 

One of my goals was to not be on the Springer show.
Not ever be invited.

 

One of my goals was to not be on the Springer show.
Not ever be invited.

Now the world is The Springer Show. I've got front row tickets here.

 

There is a concept “reflexivity” where the idea of cause and effect is set aside in favor of a view that in complex situations each thing is both a cause and an effect as they interact with each other. This certainly seems to be how things really work.

Heidegger espoused the idea of “the cathedral” which was an example of reflexivity. In his view, the cathedral (a key medieval social center) both embodied and influenced society. He called it a “work of art”.

A more modern example might be someone like Marilyn Monroe who, in her interpretation and enactment of “femininity” both reflected what she had absorbed from society about its attributes and meaning, and presented this understanding to others who might not have the natural insight but could “get” it, and adopt her manifestation for themselves.

Inevitably this would act as a feedback loop because what was added or removed from the original would influence others, evolving the ideas.

So, Jerry Springer couldn’t “invent” what he did, he reflected something that resonated with others, it made those things seem “OK”, and encouraged more versions. In the way he got guests for his show, he selected the most capable performers of the ideas. He didn’t teach them, he revealed things which they learned from, and they brought those things to the show amplifying and attenuating parts, and creating a culture to which some people felt membership.

 

Avoided the show 100%